The president of Indonesia suggests canceling regional elections in order to save money, which raises concerns about democracy

President Prabowo of Indonesia has suggested calling off regional elections in order to save money, raising questions about accountability and democratic losses.

In an effort to save money, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has suggested calling off one of the nation’s two national elections. Speaking at the Golkar Party congress late Thursday, the proposal is that regional legislatures select mayors and governors rather than holding direct elections.

Eliminating regional elections, according to Prabowo, would free up money that might be used for infrastructure improvements and school meals, among other vital programs. He remarked, “We sense the democracy we have… there are things that we need to fix together.” “In a day or two, how many trillions are spent?”

The third-largest democracy in the world, Indonesia, presently has two distinct elections: one for regional leadership roles and another for the presidency and legislatures. Prabowo’s plan is reminiscent of the three-decade authoritarian reign of Suharto’s “New Order” period, when his father-in-law was in power. Critics contend that Suharto’s system of regional legislatures appointing local leaders compromised public accountability.

It is noteworthy that Prabowo is associated with the New Order. He served under Suharto as the leader of a special force until being fired from the military for allegedly violating human rights, which he has continuously denied.

By assembling an almost universal legislative alliance, Prabowo has solidified his hold on power since winning the February election with 58% of the vote. Academics and activists are worried that Indonesia’s democratic institutions may be weakened as a result of this domination.

Yoes C. Kenawas, a political expert, denounced the plan as “cutting corners” and cautioned that it might represent a step backward for Indonesian democracy.

“Prabowo’s concept is illogical. He compared it to the New Order era and stated, “It takes shortcuts.” “This might be a blow to democracy in Indonesia.” He went on to say that the greatest method for citizens to guarantee local officials are held accountable is still through regional elections.

Whether Prabowo plans to formally submit the revisions, which would necessitate a significant revision of Indonesia’s election laws, has not been made clear by his administration.

Critics worry that Prabowo’s proposal could damage Indonesia’s democratic roots and centralize authority, even if he presents it as a cost-saving solution. Since Suharto’s ouster in 1998, the nation has sought to fortify its democratic institutions, so any move to restrict public voting is likely to provoke intense discussion.